London Ballet names director

Monica Mason, a former dancer credited with having “restored calm” to London’s Royal Ballet after its director quit three months ago, was appointed as the company’s new chief.

Ross Stretton quit in September after only 18 months in the post, following poor reviews of his productions and complaints by some dancers.

Mason, who was born in South Africa and worked as Stretton’s assistant, said she was deeply honored by her appointment, which runs until mid-2007. She joined the Royal Ballet in 1958 at 16 and became a principal a decade later.